Success Stories:

Transforming the Beaverton Downtown Association from the Inside Out

By Kevin Teater, Former Executive Director, Beaverton Downtown Association

When I first met Kirsten Agard, I could tell that she had the expertise and dedication needed to be a transformative leader with the Beaverton Downtown Associate, a nonprofit that still felt like it was in its toddler years, going through so many changes.

Kirsten came to us originally looking for a volunteer opportunity for her team at the bank. She was leading a group of 90 employees, each with 40 hours of paid volunteer time, and she wanted to provide service to the community. I was impressed, and it felt like our paths were crossing at the perfect time. So, after just one conversation, I asked if she’d consider being a board member and chairing our Organization Committee, which was the team responsible for bringing people and resources into the organization. Within just a couple months, she’d been unanimously voted in as Board Chair. Again, the nonprofit was in its toddler years, and we needed board leadership that could help guide it forward as we continued growing.

At that time, our board was comprised of a few founding Board members and some newer leaders who had great passion for downtown but less experience in nonprofit leadership. Kirsten was both a grounding and a guiding leader over the next several years. That said, she’s not known for wasting time, which included her proposed three bold moves right out of the gate: Board member term limits, a minimum Board financial contributions, and a clear strategy to diversify leadership.

Over the next several years, Kirsten and I worked closely together to lead the organization in service of a rapidly-evolving community. This was absolutely crucial, because her Board leadership included the pandemic years. While our downtown district struggled, we were fortunate to only lose one business directly due to pandemic challenges. Throughout those years, we actually gained more businesses than we lost (even indirect losses). That was, in part, due to Kirsten’s behind-the-scenes leadership and vision.

When I left the organization, Kirsten remained committed to seeing it through its next phase of growth. She repeatedly affirmed her commitment to this organization and community, and the dedication and structure she has provided since that time has been pivotal to the organization’s long-term success, which is set to continue even after her time on the Board is done.

“Kirsten is a grounding, guiding, visionary, and practical leader. Her blend of strategy and empathy is an asset to any organization and team.”

— Kevin Teater, Former Executive Director, Beaverton Downtown Association

Bringing Boba Dash to Life: A Vision Turned Cultural Celebration

By Lisa Tran, Owner of Tan Tan Café & Delicatessen

Boba Dash started as an idea I had to celebrate our local AAPI community and the vibrant culture surrounding bubble tea — a staple in many of our lives and a symbol of shared joy. I wanted something fun, family-friendly, and meaningful that could highlight the incredible diversity of Beaverton and support our local businesses at the same time.

But a vision is just the first step. To truly bring it to life — and to grow it beyond anything I could’ve imagined — I needed the right partner. That partner was Kirsten Agard.

Kirsten took Boba Dash from a seed of an idea and helped turn it into one of Beaverton’s most beloved events. She helped with everything from strategic planning and logistics to sponsorship outreach and marketing. With her leadership, we didn’t just host an event — we built momentum. Over two years, attendance doubled, sponsorships multiplied, and Boba Dash evolved into a signature celebration for downtown Beaverton.

Every year, Kirsten worked to expand and elevate the event — bringing in new vendors, streamlining operations, and making it more inclusive and impactful. What started as a fun afternoon sipping boba became a full-fledged cultural experience that people now look forward to every year.

“Kirsten didn’t just help make my idea real — she helped grow it into something the whole community could be proud of.”
— Lisa Tran, Owner, Tan Tan Café & Delicatessen

Scaling Inclusion Through Leadership & Purposeful ERG Development

By Jennifer Blevins, Former Co-Chair, Umpqua Bank Women’s Resource Group & SVP, Member Engagement, Wespay

Working alongside Kirsten Agard as Co-Chair of Umpqua Bank’s Women’s Resource Group was one of the most impactful leadership experiences of my career.

Kirsten brought clarity, drive, and heart to the group — and in just three years, she helped grow our membership by over 350%. She didn’t just aim for visibility; she built a structure that lasted. She created sub-committees that empowered more women to lead, launched a mentorship program that created real career mobility, and curated over 60 speaker panels that sparked meaningful dialogue around equity, inclusion, and leadership.

More importantly, her efforts influenced the culture of the organization itself. Through her advocacy and collaboration with HR and leadership, we saw shifts in hiring practices, increased retention of underrepresented employees, and a stronger sense of belonging across the company.

Kirsten has a unique ability to turn passion into process — and process into impact. Her leadership made space for more voices, more growth, and a future-focused strategy for inclusion that continues to resonate.

“Kirsten didn’t just grow the group — she elevated the purpose behind it.”
— Jennifer Blevins, SVP, Member Engagement, Wespay

Leading with Precision and Empathy Through a $50B Merger

By Nathan Reed, Former SVP, Chief Data Officer, Umpqua Bank & Current EVP, Information Officer, Northrim Bank

There’s no playbook for merging two $50 billion banks — especially when you spend 18 months waiting for regulatory approval, living in a constant state of “almost there.” Through that uncertainty, complexity, and sheer scale, Kirsten Agard stood out as one of the people who made it all possible.

Kirsten led from the heart of the Integration Management Office, where everything collided — regulatory requirements, business processes, cultures, and people. What impressed me most wasn’t just her technical skill or her ability to organize the chaos, though she did both exceptionally. It was her ability to bring clarity when it was hardest to find.

Kirsten dug deep across every business line, gathering information from teams who were themselves trying to find their footing. Through data and analytics, she gave us something invaluable — confidence. Confidence that we had the right information, that we were measuring the right things, and that when the merger and the Core Conversion finally happened, it would be a success — not by luck, but by preparation.

Beyond the charts and dashboards, Kirsten never forgot that behind every data point was a person dealing with change. She brought structure, insight, and empathy to every meeting, every decision, and every late-night problem-solving session.

Kirsten helped us navigate one of the most complicated projects of our careers — and she made it feel possible.

“Kirsten brought precision, clarity, data insight, and empathy to one of the most complex projects of our careers — and made it look seamless.”
— Nathan Reed, EVP, Chief Information Officer, Northrim Bank

Fighting for Art in the Heart of Beaverton

By Chuck Wilson, Owner of the Fisher-Rossi Building

The Fisher-Rossi Building has stood in downtown Beaverton for decades — a quiet landmark with deep roots. When the idea of adding a mural came up, I saw it as an opportunity to breathe new life into the space and create something lasting for the community. But getting from idea to action hasn’t been easy.

From the beginning, there were hesitations from the City. Concerns around precedent, process, and design approval slowed things down — and for a while, it looked like the project might stall. That’s when Kirsten Agard stepped in.

Kirsten didn’t just support the project — she led it. And more importantly, she fought for it. She challenged pushback from the City, rallied community voices, and worked tirelessly to navigate the layers of approvals and requirements. Every step of the way, she’s balanced vision with practicality, making sure the mural reflects the values of Beaverton while pushing the City to embrace bold public art.

The mural is still in progress — but thanks to Kirsten’s persistence and leadership, it’s moving forward. When it’s complete, I have no doubt it will be more than just a beautiful addition to the building. It will be a symbol of what happens when someone cares enough to challenge the status quo and make space for something meaningful.

“Kirsten is the reason this mural is happening. She saw the vision, fought for it, and never let it go.”
— Chuck Wilson, Owner, Rossi Building

Scaling Success: Transforming Our Growth Strategy

By a Regional Credit Union Executive

Our credit union had a bold goal: grow operations by 20% within three years. But like many growing institutions, we found ourselves hitting roadblocks — especially around loan processing times and internal workflow inefficiencies. We knew we needed outside expertise to not just identify the issues, but help us build a path forward.

That’s when we brought in Kirsten Agard.

Kirsten took a hands-on, strategic approach — not from a distance, but by embedding herself in our operations. Through in-depth job shadowing and team engagement, she quickly identified redundancies, process gaps, and opportunities to streamline. What impressed us most was her ability to translate that insight into a clear, actionable Roadmap Report — one that was both strategic and deeply practical.

Her recommendations included workflow restructuring, introducing targeted automation, and redesigning team roles for better productivity and accountability.

The results came quickly. Within six months of implementation, our loan production times decreased by 10%, and both customer satisfaction and employee experience improved significantly. We’re now on pace to exceed our original growth target — ahead of schedule.

“Kirsten didn’t just offer ideas — she delivered solutions we could actually implement.”
— Regional Credit Union Executive